Forum Topic

Cycle lane at Boston Manor Station

Can someone tell me where l can safely walk after crossing from the station heading towards the Post Office? Walking in that direction the other evening signs on pavement for bikes going both ways but no clear marking for walkers do we go in the road then!

Jean Harrison ● 2187d34 Comments

It's the danger and excitement perhaps that those cyclists want and need to brighten up their humdrum lives!  Dicing with death and destruction - no safe cycleway for them, Oh no.

Jennifer Selig ● 2183d

"One would think that a pragmatic and sensible process would be to upgrade this route first."It doesn't need much upgrading. It is perfectly adequate. Unfortunately it is rarely used. Cyclists prefer to use the A4 and weave between the traffic.

Steve Taylor ● 2183d

I, along with many fellow riders cannot fathom out why the best cycle route of the lot, which also happens to be one of the first cycleways in Britain, remains as neglected as it has for almost all my life.Yet is as separated from other road traffic, is easy-ish to ride the length of, easily accesses several local towns along it's way, and gets to the main employment areas all the way to Heathrow and beyond.And yet it has been messed with and has not been factored properly into any junction or road improvements over 40 years and what has been done , again as mentioned seems to be devoid of practicality or simple common sense.The fact is it is still 95% there, it is really useful, runs on both sides of the A4 and upgrading it and maintaining it cannot possibly cost anything like the insane cost of CS9  plus the cost in damage to other forms of vital transport in particular, public transport or pedestrians.One would think that a pragmatic and sensible process would be to upgrade this route first. It would then easily match the best that is to offer in Holland, but hey ho! This is England and the word pragmatic is not in the vocabulary of those in charge of such things.Instead we get massaged statistics to justify failure.

Raymond Havelock ● 2183d

Local councils and TFL are obsessed with implementing cycle lanes, while I am not opposed to cycle lanes the people responsible for the planning of these lanes seem to lack any common sense both in the planning and what is safe for both the cyclist and other road and pavement users. There are several examples of poorly implemented lanes in London and we don’t have to look far to find them, The Boston Manor Road is a fine example, the crossover at the station just does not work so many bikes just carry on the down the now narrowed road, the road is far more dangerous now than it ever was, using the width of the lane it could be have been on either side of the road meaning bikes would be travelling in the direction of the traffic so no need to cross, I expect cost was the driving force for what we have, but surely doing it right far out ways the extra cost, so do it right or not at all.And what Ealing have done at the station is just beyond crazy, cyclist, and pedestrians have no idea where they are meant to walk or cycle, it is an accident waiting to happen.Another example of doing something that is just wrong is the CS9, taking it down Chiswick high road is just madness, when it could follow the A4 like the lane that will follow the A40, It will ruin Chiswick High Road, and even though the majority of the local residents opposed the route it’s going to be built anyway,

Declan Devine ● 2184d

"There really does need to be some form of certification to ride a bike in dense districts and a mandatory insurance."It needs to be national not just in dense districs.

Steve Taylor ● 2184d

'Hire and reward' insurance is not needed for delivery mopeds as you are contracting with the pizza (or whatever) company and not the rider. However, business vehicle cover is needed for the routine transport of goods.
I wonder how many have it?

N V Brooks ● 2185d

I must admit I never thought about deliveries by mopeds on L plates and the insurance factor. Pedestrians are under attack as far as I can see.

Nicholas Beard ● 2185d

There are incidents daily in Lower Thames Street and Upper Thames street with pedestrians and cyclists.As a cyclist I'm really embarrassed to say it is always riders who will not abide by the highway code and obey traffic signals and road markings and simply ride too fast.Rather unsurprisingly the TfL stats do not show these incidents unless a hospital admission or fatality occurs or the police take action.  Needless to say these rarely happen as cyclists do not have insurance and there is very little a victim can do.  It's usually cuts and bruises.There really does need to be some form of certification to ride a bike in dense districts and a mandatory insurance.But locally it's moped riders using pavements, cycleways and riding in a way that causes danger to all road users and pedestrians that is way out of control.It seems bizarre that to use a car or van for deliveries, you have to by law have mandatory insurance that includes use of a vehicle for hire or reward and that you cannot get cover if you are a probationary driver or on L plates. And yet almost every moped seen riding like lemmings into danger are riding on L plates.Surely, at the very least those using a moped as a workhorse ought to hold full licences and pass a test and carry proper insurance?

Raymond Havelock ● 2185d

You are as likely to be fined for using an e-scooter as you are for cycling through red lights or tailgating cars.

Steve Taylor ● 2185d

E scooters legal on roads and cycle lanes, a possibility Guy what about the ones on pavements when there is a perfectly adequate cycle lane which they do not and will not use pedestrians know this but not the powers that be. No where for lights or a bell to warn people to jump out of the way

Jean Harrison ● 2185d

Yes and watch out for all those bobbies walking the beat.

Keith Iddon ● 2186d

Remember at present it is illegal for use in public

Nicholas Beard ● 2186d

Remember at present it is illegal for use in public

Nicholas Beard ● 2186d

“ As long as scooters, which are motorised vehicles capable of 15mph+ are licenced ”Indeed, but as I can quite easily travel at 15mph on my bicycle the level playing field should include licensing for cyclists. My daughter is getting an electric scooter shortly and I am looking forward to giving it a go. Might even get one myself!

Steve Taylor ● 2186d

Yes, especially when they go through red lights in the dark mornings with no lights

Nicholas Beard ● 2186d

As long as scooters, which are motorised vehicles capable of 15mph+ are licenced and the riders have lights, helmets and insurance then there is no issue.
I fear though that there will be some half-cocked attempt at 'licensing' with the normal blind-eye turned as scooters are not cars.
Level playing field needed.

N V Brooks ● 2186d

"Does no one from TFL sign this work off?"No, because it's Ealing council's project.Shared use pavements are common enough and (as I say upthread) accidents are very rare. However I don't think the design by BM station is up to scratch. As to electric scooters, my understanding is the proposal is to make them legal on cycle lanes and roads, not pavements, and limit their speed.If they get people out of cars, that will be good for everybody.

Guy Lambert ● 2186d

“ they can just scoot off with no responsibility?”Yep, the same as cyclists can and do. Every day.

Steve Taylor ● 2187d

“If they make them legal, well I will be really nervous.”I assume you are also nervous about cyclists then?

Steve Taylor ● 2187d

It beggars belief that the cyclist signs were painted on the pavement. Who would have the right of way in the event of a collision between pedestrian and cyclist?  Does no one from TFL sign this work off.

Pat Kingham ● 2187d

Have look at them in Paris causing big problems. Easy to get to work, fold up put under your desk and charge up free. If I was young I would be tempted I have to admit.

Nicholas Beard ● 2187d

There is something mildly pathetic about these scooters imo. I used to have a foot powered one when I was a child. Then I grew up.

Keith Iddon ● 2187d

I just read the white at night comments, seems lots are concerned about the scooters maybe both threads should join as one, possibly powers that be might take more notice ???

Jean Harrison ● 2187d

The point is they are not childrens scooters. Typically they have a speed of 15mph plus and a range of 18 miles. Really they are a vehicle so why if made legal will they not require insurance. As you say it is not good for motorists but more to the point pedestrians.

Nicholas Beard ● 2187d

So, I am peacefully and lawfully driving my taxed and insured car at the legal speed limit and someone on a souped up childrens' scooter causes me to swerve to avoid them and it results in me being in a collision or hitting a bollards etc., they can just scoot off with no responsibility?

Keith Iddon ● 2187d

I think there is worse to come. I understand they are going to look at electric scooters in order to consoder making them legal in this country. If they make them legal, well I will be really nervous.

Nicholas Beard ● 2187d

Unfortunately cyclists don't have to pass tests and get insurance before they go on the road.  If they join the LCC I believe they can easily get insurance.

Philippa Bond ● 2187d

The sad thing Guy is that the cost of the NINE weeks it took Ealing's contractors to repave and paint will now be wasted when it only took a little common sense in the first place to see that the scheme, as it is now, is unworkable.

N V Brooks ● 2187d

I suppose it didn't occur all these clevder dicks who planned this fiasco to red the Highway Code, which insists that ALL wheeled vehicles must give way to pedestrians at all times.

Keith Iddon ● 2187d

Boston Manor residents Association don't like it either and are working with Ealing Council traffic people to try and get improvements.Statistically pedestrians are very unlikely to be injured by a cycle, seeshttps://fullfact.org/health/cyclist-deaths/but it's clear that poor design causes anxiety and fear, whatever the level of real danger and that is a serious problem in itself.I find that bit of the cycle lane (N of BM station on the west side) pretty confusing on a bike and I can see why pedestrians are perturbed. IMO it needs a rethink.

Guy Lambert ● 2187d

Raymond
Thank you.
I thought that I was either being obtuse or bloody-minded and I am so pleased that someone else with common-sense has looked at the location and come to the same conclusion as I have.
It's bloody dangerous.

N V Brooks ● 2187d

There today. Insane and bloody minded. Those responsible for it's design and approval ought to be in the dock if anything happens, which is only a matter of time.

Raymond Havelock ● 2187d

"Can someone tell me where l can safely walk"You can't. The clowns who designed the lane, and the morons who  approved it,  it want everyone on bikes. Until there is a serious accident these people will do nothing about it because they refuse to admit their mistakes. It is disgraceful. How do these dullards sleep at night!

Steve Taylor ● 2187d

Cross at the lights and you can use the pavement safely northbound towards Mr. Davda in the sub-Post Office.
There is no 'safe' route for pedestrians on the eastern (station) side as Ealing Council have stupidly marked the entire PEDESTRIAN pavement as a ruddy cycle lane.
I am waiting for the first accident.

N V Brooks ● 2187d